Girl playing violin in a private music lesson at CSMA

music Private Lessons

Just learning to play? Love to sing? Resuming or continuing study? You are never too old or too young to experience the rewards of playing an instrument or developing your vocal expression!

CSMA offers private voice and music lessons for you and/or your child featuring classical, jazz, contemporary and popular styles at our Mountain View Finn Center Campus. Since our founding in 1968, CSMA’s professional music faculty has provided individualized attention and quality education that emphasizes the development of solid music fundamentals to thousands of satisfied students.

Today, private instruction for all ages is offered year round for beginning, intermediate and advanced students. At weekly lessons, students study with an instructor selected to complement a student's individual learning style. CSMA offers private lessons of 30, 45 or 60 minutes in classical, jazz, popular and world music styles. Partner lessons may also be available for beginning level students.

To learn about the details of CSMA's private lesson program, including its curriculum, calendar, special benefits, policies, and procedures, you can view our new student orientation video at: www.arts4all.org/orientation.

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Quality Music Education

CSMA is the area’s leading non-profit music school, and we are committed to providing quality music education for our students of all ages. Our music programs are taught by instructors with national and international credentials, based on an internationally recognized, sequential learning curriculum. We recognize the importance of the student-teacher relationship, and CSMA’s music faculty are selected for their ability to teach as well as their musicianship.

CSMA’s complete music education program includes opportunities to:

Our multi-lingual faculty of over 50 professional music instructors are ready to help you or your child experience the joy of music. Music study is valuable for all ages. It not only increases musical appreciation and ability, but has been shown to build valuable skills associated with greater educational and life achievement among youth and teens. More information about the benefits of music study can be found here.

Instruments

*Specialized Jazz Instruction Offered

Music study brings joy and confers many benefits throughout life and for a life time! Our door is open for you to start putting music into your life! Visit our FAQ's page for more information about private music lessons and group classes or contact our Music School staff.

What's Included

CSMA is unique in that it offers a variety of valuable educational opportunities to enhance private music students’ learning experience. Our program includes sessions that help students select their instruments plus valuable curriculum additions that build on private lessons to develop music proficiency and knowledge. These many offerings make CSMA the place to study and experience music, year round!

Core Curriculum Classes

Private lesson students may enroll without extra cost in ONE Music Core Curriculum Class each semester (except summer). Weekly classes offer private lesson students additional training in musicianship, composition, music theory and ensemble. For info about Core Curriculum Classes, contact Coordinator, Finn Center Music Instruction, at 650/917-6800, ext 304, or send an email to ccampbell@arts4all.org.

Workshop Weeks

To broaden each student’s musical experience, Workshop Weeks (offered Fall & Spring) feature a series of special workshop sessions, faculty performances and student ensemble events facilitated by CSMA faculty. Past weeks have included workshops such as: Recital Preparation, Juggling, Music History, and Composing Your Own Music. CSMA private lesson students may participate in multiple workshops.

Student Recitals

Student recitals at CSMA are given at the end of each semester and provide an invaluable opportunity for students to give a formal presentation and to gain confidence in front of an audience of family and friends. Click on this link to view the current semester’s recital schedule. All student recitals are free and open to the public.

Free Concerts & Events

CSMA encourages students to regularly attend CSMA's free concerts and events, which present diverse musical styles and outstanding artists. See our Arts & Entertainment Calendar.

Additional Opportunities for Private Lesson Students

Music Examinations

CSMA hosts and prepares students for the practical and theory examinations of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), an international organization that operates music examinations in over 90 countries every year. Faculty select students for whom the ABRSM curriculum and performance challenge provide appropriate motivation and reward. Over 350 students from throughout Silicon Valley come to CSMA twice a year to perform for the ABRSM examiner who travels from London.

Last year, of the 100+ CSMA students who took either the ABRSM Practical (includes performance and aural training) or Theory Exams, 100% passed. The world-wide exam pass rate is approximately 87%. Most CSMA students taking the exams annually pass with Distinction or Merit. For more information about ABRSM, see our catalog.

Merit Scholarships

Merit Scholarships are awarded to students (grade school through high school) who have shown a high level of commitment, talent and achievement in their CSMA studies and who are ready to develop the additional skills necessary to become high-level performers, including:

  • Training in stage presence and etiquette
  • Working and performing in ensembles with other Merit Scholars
  • Learning how to rehearse effectively
  • Building a performance portfolio

These skills are built through ensemble coaching sessions with CSMA faculty, special workshops for Merit Scholars and, most importantly, performances at high-profile events, both on- and off-site.

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship, students must be nominated by a faculty member. Students only become eligible for nomination after one year of continuous CSMA private lessons (or 18 months, if absent during summer). Each year, CSMA awards approximately 50 Merit Scholarships, with competitive auditions before a panel of judges held annually in the spring. Merit Scholarship students and their families are regarded as the ambassadors of the CSMA Music School and are role models for all of our music students and their families.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition includes $15 non-refundable semester registration fee per instrument per student.

Spring 2012 (Mon, Jan 23-Mon, June 11)
19 wks (18 lessons + 1 workshop week)

Private Lessons:
30-minute/$732.25
45-minute/$1090.88
60-minute/$1449.50

Summer 2012 (Wed, June 27-Wed, Aug 8)
6 wks

Private Lessons:
30-minute/$241.50
45-minute/$354.75
60-minute/$468.00

NOTE: Tuition is higher for study with faculty designated as Distinguished Teachers. For more information about these teachers, meet our faculty. Call us at 650.917.6800 for rates.

Family Discount

5% off private lesson tuition for all subsequent family members after first enrollee registering for private lessons. (Discount does NOT apply to first enrollee.) Cannot be combined with any other discount or financial aid.

Scholarship & Financial Aid

Merit Scholarships

See description above.

Financial Aid

In keeping with CSMA’S commitment to supporting Arts 4 All, our Financial Aid Program offers tuition assistance and/or work-study opportunities to qualified students. For info on how to apply, go to CSMA’s financial aid page or call the Student Services Staff, 650.917.6800, ext. 0.

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